Happiness. A simple, basic word… or is it?
It’s one of those things we all talk about, all want, and yet it seems to mean something completely different depending on who you ask.
Some people need things to make them happy.
Some people need other people to make them happy.
And some people are perfectly content with their own company.
None of it is wrong… just different.
Of course, buying something new can bring a burst of happiness. That “new purchase” feeling is real. But let’s be honest, it doesn’t last forever. Eventually, it becomes just another item you own, and you’re on to the next thing.
The same goes for spending time with family and friends. It can be wonderful, uplifting, and exactly what you need… in the moment.
But what happens after?
When the house is quiet again, the visit is over, and everything goes back to normal… where does that happiness come from then?
I’ve come to realize that I fall pretty firmly into the introvert category.
I genuinely enjoy my peace and quiet. I like not being around a lot of people. In fact, I love my own company. I’m quite happy puttering around the house or yard, watching a movie by myself, or getting lost in a good book.
Walking my dogs? That’s a good day right there.
Give me a quiet lunch at my desk, and I’m happier than a pig in you-know-what.
Meanwhile, I work with people who need the exact opposite. They head straight to the lunchroom, not just to eat, but to be around others. The conversation, the noise, the interaction… that’s what fills their cup.
And then there are meetings.
Personally, I’m quite happy with a Zoom call. Quick, efficient, and I can stay in my own little bubble.
Others? They need in-person meetings, complete with snacks, side conversations, and the full experience.
Again… not wrong. Just different.
And it’s not just in workplaces, either.
Even within the same family, you’ll often find a mix of introverts, extroverts, and those somewhere in between. Raised by the same parents, in the same home, with the same values… and yet completely different in how they interact with the world.
What makes that happen?
Is it the combination of DNA we inherit from our parents? We all get a different mix. Some lean more toward one parent, some toward the other, and some land somewhere closer to a 50-50 split. Maybe that plays a role in how we’re wired.
Or is it something we learn along the way?
It really makes you wonder what it is that shapes this.
Why do some of us recharge in solitude, while others feel energized by being around people? Is it nature, nurture, or a bit of both?
It would be a pretty boring world if we were all the same. But I do find it fascinating how different we can be when it comes to something as simple, and as important, as happiness.
Maybe the real takeaway is this.
Happiness doesn’t have a single definition. It isn’t one-size-fits-all, and it doesn’t come from the same place for everyone.
And that’s probably a good thing.
Because whether your version of happiness is a quiet afternoon alone, a lively lunchroom full of conversation, or a brand-new purchase that makes your day… it all counts.
Inquiring minds would like to know.
And as Tigger would say, TTFN. Ta-ta for now.